I received an early digital review copy of You Don’t Belong Here from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book releases in October 2025 and includes nine short stories by D.M. Siciliano, each exploring various facets of fear, death, and the darker sides of love and family.
As with most collections, this one was a bit hit or miss for me — but the hits were worth it. The cover suggests pure horror, but many of the stories lean more toward psychological thriller or dark fiction. A few offer eerie atmospheres and clever endings without being outright terrifying.
The standout for me was “Hysteria,” which hit uncomfortably close to home in its portrayal of medical gaslighting. It was disturbing in the best way, and one I won’t soon forget. “Invisible,” the opening story, delivers its message with little subtlety, but still made an impact. “No Cell Service” was well-paced and effectively creepy. On the other hand, “Not a Game” didn’t work as well for me — largely because the child characters didn’t quite ring true, though the ending was solid.
Some stories weren’t quite as memorable, but as a whole, this was a fun and fast read. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars. If you’re in the mood for short, unsettling stories that explore real-world fears with a supernatural or speculative twist, this is worth picking up — especially for fans of psychological suspense more than straight-up horror.
